Southeastern Association Of Fish & Wildlife Agen Ellington Agri Ctr

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR STATE AND PROVINCIAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO SHARE IDEAS AND INFORMATION, POOL RESOURCES, AND INITIATE ACTIONS TO BENEFIT THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN THE SOUTHEAST. TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS FISH, WILDLIFE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WHICH BENEFIT THE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN THE SOUTHEAST; REVIEWS STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND OFFERS SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF SUCH RESOURCES; CONSULTS WITH AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FEDERAL WILDLIFE AND PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES IN ORDER THAT FEDERAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS INVOLVING FEDERAL AID TO MEMBER STATES SHALL BE SO CONDUCTED AS TO BEING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE RESOURCES OF MEMBER STATES.

THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS THE SOUTHEAST AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP TO HELP THE STATES TO LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND POPULATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION MAKES GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DO HANDS ON WORK IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS A NATIVE BLACK BASS INITIATIVE (NBBI) COORDINATOR WHO WORKS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS BETWEEN STATE OFFICIALS TO PROTECT ENTIRE WATERSHEDS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITATS TARGETING NATIVE BLACK BASSES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO COORDINATES NUMEROUS LOCAL HABITAT PROTECTION EFFORTS WITHIN THE MEMBER STATES.

THE ORGANIZATION ORGANIZES AND HOSTS THE ANNUAL SEAFWA CONFERENCE. THE INFORMATION AND STRATEGY SHARING AT THIS CONFERENCE ALLOWS HUNDREDS OF WILDLIFE AND FISH PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN BEST PRACTICES RELATED TO MANAGING FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS. THE MAJORITY OF ATTENDEES ARE EMPLOYEES OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES.

THE ORGANIZATION MAKES OTHER GRANTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES THAT ASSISTS IN FURTHERING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BY DIRECTLY ASSISTING WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE PROJECTS.

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ENCOURAGE MINORITY INVOLVEMENT AND INTEREST IN CAREERS WITH STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES BY SPONSORING THE COST OF STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SEAFWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS A STUDY AND OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN A FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY.THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS SEAFWA.ORG WEBSITE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE EMPLOYEES OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND OTHERS WORKING IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE FIELD ABOUT FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE WEBSITE PROVIDES A FORUM FOR SEAFWA COMMITTEES TO COMMUNICATE. INFORMATION REGARDING THE ANNUAL SEAFWA CONFERENCE IS COMMUNICATED VIA THE WEBSITE. IN ADDITION, THE WEBSITE PROVIDES ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE SEAFWA PROCEEDINGS AND THE SEAFWA JOURNAL.THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCED A 2021 EDITION OF THE SEAFWA JOURNAL TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS THE SCIENTIFIC DATA PRESENTED AT THE SEAFWA CONFERENCE AT NO COST.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE IN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND SPECIAL AWARDS FOR THE FAMILY OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENTS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.SEAFWA SUPPORTS THE BEARWISE PROJECT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW TO LIVE WITH BEARS AND TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION OF BEARS AND THEIR HABITATS.